Flogging And Sleeping With Dead: Unusual Customs In Some African Countries
Luo Tribe of Kenya and Tanzania | Answers Africa
There are many customs and traditions from all around the world that others from other parts may consider “weird or unusual.”
For instance, we reported the story of the woman whose corpse was made to stand at her own funeral, the Namibian tribe where sex is offered to guests, the widow burning culture in India among others are just some of the unusual cultural practices from around the world.
The Luo also called Joluo or Jonagi/Onagi meaning “Ramogi’s heirs”) are an ethnic group in western Kenya, northern Uganda, and in Mara Region in northern Tanzania.
The Luo people are rich in tradition and cultural practises although some of their ways may have an observer raising an eyebrow. In this article, we have listed some unusual customs that are practised or formerly practised by the Luo people.
Sleeping with the dead
In the past, there was a custom among the Luo people that had widows sleep in the same room with the body of their late husband before burial.
It is expected of the widow to have an odd ‘mandatory dream’ of herself making love to her dead husband for the last time, so as to be considered ‘freed’ and ready to get remarried.
This custom was supposedly meant to be a part of a cleansing ritual to purify such women in readiness for inheritance. In the event that she doesn’t have the dream, more elaborate cleansing rituals took place.
Credit: Guardian